33 Years Ago Today

[jsb]

Everyone has the game that made them believe in Hilton Magic. This wasn't the first time I saw a great comeback (hell, I think the week before there was a pretty decent comeback against Oklahoma), but it was my first core memory at Hilton. I remember being really pissed at halftime and I remember losing my god damned mind in the second half. My mom, who wasn't at the game, starting taping it with about 7 minutes left. And I watched the hell out of that tape. So much so that when cyclones.tv had a replay of the game some 20 years later, I STILL knew the exact words the announcers said and their exact inflection.

And games like this are the reason why I will never understand why anyone would prefer watching at home to being there in person.

 

[BCClone]

I was very drunk at that game.

 

[dahliaclone]

I was at this game a few rows behind the basket that Alexander missed the late free throws. I know many have their game they think was the loudest ever in Hilton. I’ve been to many many loud games at Hilton but nothing comes close to this game.

 

[flycy]

I was at this game a few rows behind the basket that Alexander missed the late free throws. I know many have their game they think was the loudest ever in Hilton. I’ve been to many many loud games at Hilton but nothing comes close to this game.

When opponents have a free throw late to tie or take the lead, it should be so loud the floor vibrates. It's been that loud before and has been effective more than once. Like the Iowa game in the CFH era, remember it a few times in the late 80's early 90's when I was a student as well. I think Hilton was louder when the students were randomly placed all over the coliseum. There was a lottery to even get tickets, and then you were never seated in the same place twice. I don't think I was ever in the lower bowl, but we had one in our group who was in a wheelchair so to of our tickets were in the handicap section in the lower bowl so maybe they "punished" the rest of us for that.

Watched that game from my parents' house, I'd just started my slumming period with grad school at Iowa. Quite the memorable game even from home.

 

[madguy30]

It's a good thing CF wasn't around then.

'Concerns', 'Johnny's lost the locker room', 'something behind the scenes', 'why can't they show up for once?', etc. would have been thrown all over the place in the first half.
And, that Okie State team went on to a 2 seed and losing in a close game to the Fab Five in the Sweet Sixteen. Good teams give up big leads.

 

[JP4CY]

Oklahoma St has really fallen off my radar of noticing their athletics.

 

[Raiders70]

Wow I remember this game. I believe ISU was up by one when OSU player got fouled as time ran out. The place was crazy loud when he attempted the first free throw and missed. You wouldn't have thought it could get any louder but I am pretty sure the loudest Hilton has ever been was right before the second attempt. I think the guy shooting the free throws was one of their best free throw shooters but he absolutely collapsed under the pressure and the deafening noise. Second free throw wasn't even close.

 

[dahliaclone]

There was an old ISU newspaper called Cyclone Illustrated (many on here will remember it many may not) and there was an issue with the cover photo of Alexander shooting into the craziness behind the basket. Wish I still had that because my and my brother are visible in the pic.

 

[Cyched]

 

[BCClone]

When opponents have a free throw late to tie or take the lead, it should be so loud the floor vibrates. It's been that loud before and has been effective more than once. Like the Iowa game in the CFH era, remember it a few times in the late 80's early 90's when I was a student as well. I think Hilton was louder when the students were randomly placed all over the coliseum. There was a lottery to even get tickets, and then you were never seated in the same place twice. I don't think I was ever in the lower bowl, but we had one in our group who was in a wheelchair so to of our tickets were in the handicap section in the lower bowl so maybe they "punished" the rest of us for that.

Watched that game from my parents' house, I'd just started my slumming period with grad school at Iowa. Quite the memorable game even from home.

I had seats once like 2 rows behind our bench. When you get seats like that for 2-3 games, the rest are in the corners or top rows. If you were like top of the parquet for your good seats, you would get maybe middle of the top section along half court or so.

 

[Raiders70]

I completely forgot ISU was so far behind in that game. The ending was absolutely epic.

 

[Cyched]

And since other moments were mentioned:

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I remember watching it on TV, one heck of a comeback. OSU played great the first half, and then just could get nothing going the 2nd, while ISU stormed back.

 

[cydsho]

Loudest game ever probably.

 

[StLouisClone]

Is that Dave Armstrong doing the play by play? Looks like he retired in 2022. He did a ton of ISU and KU basketball games over the years.

I was there somewhere in the crowd about 20 rows up from the floor.

 

[Marcelason78]

There was an old ISU newspaper called Cyclone Illustrated (many on here will remember it many may not) and there was an issue with the cover photo of Alexander shooting into the craziness behind the basket. Wish I still had that because my and my brother are visible in the pic.

Remember CI well. Got stiffed for few bucks when they decided to go under.

 

[StLouisClone]

That was one of two different seasons that ISU went 5-9 in conference and still made the NCAA tournament. Johnny had a knack for knocking off the top Big 8 teams at Hilton at just the right times. Plus the Big 8 was loaded.

 

[jbhtexas]

I was at this game a few rows behind the basket that Alexander missed the late free throws. I know many have their game they think was the loudest ever in Hilton. I’ve been to many many loud games at Hilton but nothing comes close to this game.

I was on the opposite end, 2nd row from the floor, on the side opposite the ISU bench, and so had a great view of the Hoiberg layup. Just a crazy sports environment, and I've never been in one like it since.

 

[NIClone]

I was a freshman and my first experience of Hilton Magic. To this day the loudest I have personally experienced in the building.

 

[Die4Cy]

I was about 12 rows up behind the OSU bench near center court. It was my first year at ISU and these were one rotation of the tickets I got in the student lottery. Probably takes $20,000 in annual donations to sit there today. A great memory.